Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Standing on Holy Ground...


Sunday’s worship service at the Almond Union of Churches was a little different than normal. The heater was not working in the Sanctuary, so we set up chairs in the Social Room. It was nice and cozy, and we had a good service, but there is something less formal, almost less holy, about worship in the Social Room.

Yet as I was thinking about this, I am reminded that when we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our salvation. The Holy Spirit is given freely to all who believe.

So if we have the Holy Spirit, then everywhere we go, the Holy Spirit goes with us. Therefore, wherever we are standing is Holy ground. It doesn’t matter if we worship in the Sanctuary, or in the Social Room, or if we are unable to attend for any reason. The Holy Spirit is still with us.

And when we go to a place, we bring the presence of the Holy Spirit with us, and that place becomes Holy ground. When you are sitting to worship, that is Holy ground. But when you are sitting in a restaurant thinking how slow the service is today, you are still sitting on Holy ground. When you are standing in line at the grocery store, thinking of all the things you have to get done this afternoon, you are standing on Holy ground. When someone comes to complain to you for the umpteenth time, you are standing on Holy ground.

By virtue of your faith in Christ Jesus, you are Holy. And where you go becomes Holy, because you bring the Holy Spirit there.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

We used to teach the children the following song:

I am the church.
You are the church.
We are the church together.
All the friendly people,
all around the world,
we are the church together.

A church is not a building,
A church is not a steeple,
A church is not a dwelling place,
A church is a people.

I am the church---(repeat the chorus).

Anyone can call me and I'll sing you the tune!

What is the Church?

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